Business & Management Programs
Post-Degree Diploma in Business Studies
1–Year* Post–Degree Program
Program Fees: Domestic Students, International Students
Apply for Admission: Forms and Information
* Successful completion of a PDDB in one year can be affected by course availability and the previous academic and work related experience of the individual candidate.
Note: VIU also offers a Master of Business Administration program.
The Program
VIU’s Post-Degree Diploma in Business Studies provides students who already possess an undergraduate degree with an opportunity to study business and management. Students may select concentrations in Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Financial Services, General Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management/Leadership, Marketing, Not–for–Profit Management, or following a consultation with the PDDB Academic Advisor take a personalized program that suits their interests.
The PDDB program is a 1–year (12 month) post–degree program. Ideally, it may be completed in one academic year by taking five courses in the Fall semester and another five in the Spring semester. In reality, however, this may not be possible due to the availability of course offerings. In addition, especially for international students who may experience some language difficulties and both social and academic culture shock, the preferred course workload will be the 4 + 4 + 2 model, with four courses in the Fall, four courses in the Spring, and 2 courses in the Summer session. Alternatively, for students entering in January (Spring), the model is 4 + 2 + 4.
The program also offers an avenue for students who wish to pursue graduate studies but need to develop a stronger academic background. To ensure a higher degree of success in the MBA program, it is strongly suggested that students take courses from the five disciplines that form the MBA program. The disciplines involved are Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing. For more details, please see the PDDB Academic Advisor.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have a degree from a recognized institution.
- Course prerequisites may be waived given a student’s academic or professional background.
- International students, see also International Students Admission.
Notes on Admission
Only courses completed after a first degree will be considered for credit toward the Post-Degree Diploma.
Start Date and Application Deadline
The program starts in September. Applications are accepted between November 15 and March 31. For further information regarding late applications and program contacts check the Program Availability List.
Graduation Requirements
The Diploma will be awarded upon successful completion of 30 credits (10 courses) of selected VIU Business courses with a minimum “C” average; 15 of 30 credits must be from courses at the 300-level or above.
Transferring students must complete a minimum 50% of the 30 required credits at VIU. Students who wish to transfer out of the program to other institutions will be able to do so on a course-by-course basis.
Academic Advising
International students must consult with Jane Kelly the Director, International Admissions. Domestic students must consult with Raimo Marttala the PDDB Academic Advisor.
Program Streams
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Services
- General Management
- Human Resource Management
- International Business
- Management and Leadership
- Marketing
- Not–For–Profit Management
Accounting Concentration
Note: Successful completion of the accounting concentration in one year, pre-supposes that the student is entering the program having already completed ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) and ACCT 201 - (Financial Accounting II), or their equivalent. Of the 30 credits (10 courses) of selected VIU courses, 15 credits (5 courses) must be Accounting (ACCT) courses.
|
|
|---|---|
Choose ten of the following courses: |
|
ACCT 217 - (Taxation I) |
30 |
Total Credits |
30 |
Entrepreneurship Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) or, |
3 |
ACCT 294 - (Intro to Cost and Managerial Accounting) |
3 |
LAWW 326 - (Commercial Law) |
3 |
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
MGMT 381 - (Entre/Intrapreneurship) |
3 |
MGMT 450 - (Operations Management) |
3 |
Upper–level MARK elective |
3 |
Upper–level MGMT elective |
3 |
Total Credits |
30 |
Financial Services Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
ACCT 201 - (Financial Accounting II) |
3 |
ECON 305 - (Money, Banking, and the Foreign Exchange) |
3 |
FNCE 130 - (Intro to Finance) |
3 |
FNCE 330 - (Corporate Finance) |
3 |
FNCE 344 - (Canadian Investment Funds) |
3 |
FNCE 345 - (Security Analysis and Investment Management) |
3 |
MARK 362 - (Professional Selling) |
3 |
MGMT 323 - (International Business I) |
3 |
QUME 232 - (Business Statistics I) |
3 |
Total Credits |
30 |
General Management Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
ECON 100 - (Intro to Economics) |
3 |
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 496 - (Strategic Management Issues) |
3 |
QUME 232 - (Business Statistics I) |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective* |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective* |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective* |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective* |
3 |
Total Credits |
30 |
*Note: Selection of upper–level electives will be in consultation with the Post Degree Diploma Advisor.
Human Resource Management Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 292 - (Organizational Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
Choose six of the following courses: |
|
MGMT 345 - (Safety and Wellness) |
18 |
Total Credits |
30 |
International Business Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 292 - (Organizational Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
Choose six of the following courses: |
|
FNCE 423 - (International Finance) |
18 |
Total Credits |
30 |
Management and Leadership Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 292 - (Organizational Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
Select three courses selected from the following list: |
|
ECON 300 - (Political Economy for Non-Specialists) |
9 |
Upper–level Business elective |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective |
3 |
Total Credits |
30 |
Marketing Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 260 - (Buyer Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
QUME 232 - (Business Statistics I) |
3 |
Select five of the following courses: |
|
MARK 325 - (Advertising and Promotion) |
15 |
Total Credits |
30 |
Not–For–Profit Management Concentration
|
|
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
ACCT 294 - (Intro to Cost and Managerial Accounting) or, |
3 |
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 470 - (Marketing Management in Public and Not-for-Profit Organizations) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
MGMT 392 - (Negotiations) |
3 |
TRMT 450 - (Volunteer Management) |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective* |
3 |
Upper–level Business elective* |
3 |
Total Credits |
30 |
*Note: Selection of upper–level electives will be in consultation with the Post Degree Diploma Advisor.
Students with a Business Undergraduate Degree
Students interested in a general Post-Degree Diploma in Business Studies who have a business undergraduate degree may consider the following courses:
Lower–level courses |
Credits |
|---|---|
ACCT 201 - (Financial Accounting II) |
3 |
ACCT 294 - (Intro to Cost and Managerial Accounting) |
3 |
MARK 260 - (Buyer Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 230 - (Introduction to E-Management) |
3 |
MGMT 292 - (Organizational Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
QUME 232 - (Business Statistics I) |
3 |
Upper–level courses |
Credits |
|---|---|
A minimum of five upper–level courses must be completed: |
3 |
ACCT 335 - (Intermediate Accounting: Assets) |
3 |
ACCT 336 - (Intermediate Accounting: Liabilities and Owners' Equity) |
3 |
FNCE 344 - (Canadian Investment Funds) |
3 |
FNCE 345 - (Security Analysis and Investment Management) |
3 |
LAWW 326 - (Commercial Law) |
3 |
MARK 325 - (Advertising and Promotion ) |
3 |
MARK 361 - (Services Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 362 - (Professional Selling) |
3 |
MARK 366 - (Market Research) |
3 |
MARK 430 - (On-Line Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 460 - (Strategic Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 470 - (Marketing Management in Public and Not-for-Profit Organizations) |
3 |
MGMT 323 - (International Business I ) |
3 |
MGMT 381 - (Entre/Intrapreneurship) |
3 |
MGMT 385 - (Labour and Employee Relations ) |
3 |
MGMT 392 - (Negotiations) |
3 |
MGMT 450 - (Operations Management ) |
3 |
MGMT 460 - (Business - Government Relations) |
3 |
MGMT 496 - (Strategic Management Issues) |
3 |
QUME 380 - (Management Information Systems: Design and Analysis) |
3 |
QUME 436 - (Econometrics) |
3 |
Students with a Non-Business Undergraduate Degree
Students interested in a general Post-Degree Diploma in Business Studies with a non-business undergraduate degree are encouraged to take a variety of courses, unless they are focused on a specific career path.
Lower–level courses |
Credits |
|---|---|
ACCT 100 - (Financial Accounting I) |
3 |
ACCT 294 - (Intro to Cost and Managerial Accounting) |
3 |
ECON 211 - (Principles of Microeconomic Theory) |
3 |
ECON 212 - (Principles of Macroeconomic Theory) |
3 |
FNCE 130 - (Intro to Finance) |
3 |
LAWW 326 - (Commercial Law) |
3 |
MARK 160 - (Introduction to Marketing) |
3 |
MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) |
3 |
MGMT 230 - (Introduction to E-Management) |
3 |
MGMT 292 - (Organizational Behaviour) |
3 |
MGMT 293 - (Human Resource Management) |
3 |
QUME 232 - (Business Statistics I) |
3 |
Upper–level courses |
Credits |
|---|---|
ACCT 335 - (Intermediate Accounting: Assets) |
3 |
ACCT 336 - (Intermediate Accounting: Liabilities and Owners' Equity) |
3 |
FNCE 345 - (Security Analysis and Investment Management) |
3 |
LAWW 326 - (Commercial Law) |
3 |
MARK 314 - (Retail/Wholesale Management) |
3 |
MARK 325 - (Advertising and Promotion) |
3 |
MARK 361 - (Services Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 366 - (Market Research) |
3 |
MARK 430 - (On-Line Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 460 - (Strategic Marketing) |
3 |
MARK 470 - (Marketing Management in Public and Not-for-Profit Organizations) |
3 |
MGMT 323 - (International Business I) |
3 |
MGMT 381 - (Entre/Intrapreneurship ) |
3 |
MGMT 392 - (Negotiations) |
3 |
MGMT 450 - (Operations Management) |
3 |
MGMT 460 - (Business - Government Relations) |
3 |
MGMT 496 - (Strategic Management Issues) |
3 |
QUME 380 - (Management Information Systems: Design and Analysis) |
3 |
QUME 436 - (Econometrics) |
3 |
For further information contact:
- Domestic students: Raimo Marttala at Raimo.Marttala@viu.ca
- International students: Jane Kelly at Jane.Kelly@viu.ca
Updated April 16, 2011